# CVE-2010-3843: Memory corruption in ettercap

> A stack-based buffer overflow in the GTK interface of ettercap allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code via a maliciously crafted settings file.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 May 2021
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2010-3843, GHSA-2w85-hj5c-563j

## What is CVE-2010-3843?

CVE-2010-3843 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in ettercap, published on 28 May 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The GTK version of ettercap uses a global settings file at /tmp/.ettercap_gtk and does not verify ownership of this file. When parsing this file for settings in gtkui_conf_read() (src/interfacesgtk/ec_gtk_conf.c), an unchecked sscanf() call allows a maliciously placed settings file to overflow a statically-sized buffer on the stack.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-3843?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ettercap-Project Ettercap.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-3843?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2010-3843 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2010-3843 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in ettercap

- [CVE-2014-6395](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6395/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2014-6396](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6396/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2014-9376](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9376/): Integer overflow in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2014-9377](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9377/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2014-9378](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9378/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-3843 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-3843 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in ettercap, published on 28 May 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2010-3843 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: ettercap. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3843/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3843/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-3843
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-3843
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-3843

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3843/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.